Abstract In this paper, the author examines a study by W.K. Lauenroth as it is presented in "Fundamentals of Physical Geography: 2nd Edition." The author argues that average annual temperature, as a part of climate, is very important in relation to biomass of plant material.
From the Paper "Lauenroth's study is important because it suggests that the average annual temperature can in fact play a deterministic role in influencing primary productivity in natural grasslands. Other "meteorological variables" come into play "such as rainfall, windliness and duration of sunshine" but temperature "is probably the most significant climatic factor in biological terms as all metabolic processes...are temperature dependent" (Ford 17). If the average annual temperature is too low (below approximately four degrees celsius) then, according to Lauenroth's study, the biomass of organic life is essentially zero tonnes per hectare in natural grasslands: this could be due to the fact that low temperatures are correlated with low amounts of sunlight and plants require sunlight to produce their own food."
Tags: biome, climate, geography, grasslands, natural, physical, temperature
Abstract This paper examines how the energy crisis that plagues many American cities has been at the center of much debate. It looks at information about current energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, wind energy, nuclear energy, and fossil fuel. The discussion also covers alternative energy sources, such as solar energy, hydrogen energy, and biomass energy. It seeks to explain the expense, transportation, production, and storage of these energy sources and focuses on issues of practicality, such as current availability and renewal. It also discusses efficiency and environmental ramifications.
Outline
Introduction
Current Forms of Energy
Hydroelectricity
Wind Energy
Nuclear Energy
Fossil Fuel
Alternative forms of Energy
Solar Energy
Hydrogen Energy
Biomass energy
Efficiency, Practicality and Environmental Ramifications
Conclusion
From the Paper "Wind Energy is also a current source of electricity for millions of people. (Blackburn, 1987) Utilities can use the energy from the wind to propel vessels or to pump water. (Blackburn, 1987) wind energy is rather inexpensive especially in remote areas. (Blackburn, 1987) According to an article in the Geographical Review, wind energy is extremely efficient and is now the fastest growing source of renewable energy. (Pasqualetti 2000) Blackburn (1987) asserts that wind energy can produce energy for a cost of 12-15? per kilowatt hour before tax benefits come into consideration. (Blackburn, 1987)"
Abstract This paper discusses the problems we face with our current methods of creating energy and list other possible ways to generate energy as well as the pros and cons for each instance. The paper also discusses hydroelectric, biomass, wind power, solar power, nuclear power, and fossil fuel energy.
From the Paper "Fission, a nuclear process, is already in use throughout the planet. In order to produce electricity, the energy released by fission is generally used to heat water which in turn produces steam to power a turbine (Energy Matters). Relatively little fuel is needed for fission and it's generally an inexpensive method. Another benefit: fission is not believed to cause pollution or contribute to global warming in any way. However, not every country can use this method, depending on the amount of uranium present in that area. Also, fission can be a dangerous procedure. A nuclear meltdown can prove harmful to humans and the environment around a nuclear plant, and the waste left over from the fission process can be used to make nuclear weapons?a highly destructive tool. (Energy Matters)."
Abstract This paper examines how energy is the vital force powering business, manufacturing, and the transportation of goods and services to serve the American and world economies and how, if we don"t do something, there could be a problem. It looks at how we can"t continue to rely on fossil fuels as we do today because of their limited supplies and how we need to find new, renewable, and alternative energy sources. It analyzes the technologies, such as hydropower, hydrogen and fuel cells, geothermal, and biomass, and shows how we need to decide what we are going to do to change our ways and help preserve the world we love.
From the Paper "The last predominate renewable energy source is from water or what is called hydropower. We can harness one of the earth's most predominate resources to our advantage and create clean renewable energy. According to the Alternative Energy Institute, ?There are several favorable features of hydropower. Anywhere sufficient rain falls, there will be rivers. If a particular section of river has the right terrain to form a reservoir, it may be suitable for dam construction. Once the system has been installed, no fossil fuels are required to produce the electricity, and the earth's hydrologic cycle naturally replenishes the "fuel" supply (Alternative Energy Institute)."
Abstract The paper discusses the marketing plan for the Enviro Biomass (EB) and the Pelletizer. EB is a new company and is already doing well, as it is the only Pelletizer distributor in the province of British Columbia. The paper examines how, because EB's only competitor is a company that manufactures a larger and more expensive Pelletizer, EB is in a good position to become the market dominator.
Abstract This paper examines climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases reduction, removal and disposal and the intersections between treatment technologies, energy savings and sustainable energy sources. It presents case studies of companies competing in the alternative energy industry in general and in biomass conversion in particular. It then reviews the literature concerning particular technologies for application to current carbon energy sources researched and practiced by researchers, government and industry today. Essentially, this study examines the methods used to reduce, remove and dispose of greenhouse gas constituents.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Introduction
Introduction
Importance of the Study
Background of the Problem
Problem Statement
Definition of Terms
Methodology Statement
Purpose of Study
Summary
Chapter II. Review of the Literature
Introduction
Defining Global Warming
The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Variability
Sources of Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases and Induced Climate Change
Anthropogenic Induced Climate Change
Atmospheric Temperatures and Recent Climate Changes
Positive Feedback Loops
Important Issues Affected by Global Warming
Public Health Issues
Precipitation
Ocean Warming, Circulation and Acidification
Sea Level Rise
Snow and Ice
Biodiversity
Ozone Depletion
Summary
Constituents of Concern
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Chlorofluorocarbons
Nitrogen Oxides
Aerosols
Assessment of Treatment Technologies
Biomass Today
Boosting Production
Carbon Capture
Flue Gas Cleaning
Molecular Sieve
Chapter III. Methodology
Description of the Study Approach
Data-gathering Method and Database of Study
Chapter IV. Data Analysis and Discussion
From the Paper "Beginning in the nineteenth century, machines of the Industrial Revolution first began using fossil fuels including coal and petroleum and were the start of a new economic engine. While unrecognized as a potential global issue at the time, the increased use of fossil fuels during this period in history began to contribute to the accumulation of so-called greenhouse gases. Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are a byproduct of the combustion process of fossil fuels. Since the beginning of Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have increased 30%, CH4 levels have increase 15 % and subsequent increases have occurred in all other GHGs. The result is the average increase in global temperatures was 10F from the mid-nineteenth century till near the end of the twentieth century. Within the last 25 years the average global temperature increase has been an additional 0.80F. This temperature increase follows the increase in GHGs. Figure 1 shows the increases in carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxides from their various sources from 1970 until 2004. Scientific consensus is that this increase is not that of natural variation or solar radiation changes but from the results of human activities. Not only from the burning of fossil fuels but from the diminished natural buffers created by farming and resulting deforestation (Braasch 2007)"
Abstract This paper presents a research proposal that will confirm that sediments of the small pond discussed in the paper, like larger bodies of water, will contain significant amounts of P and N, and that these sediments will be one of the sources responsible for the increasing incidence of eutrophic or hypereutrophic in the nation's systems of ponds, rivers, lakes and streams.
From the Paper "Over the millennia, water has provided humankind with numerous products and services, including transportation, food, drinking water, irrigation, recreation, and protection. Unfortunately, the world's lakes, rivers, and oceans have also been used as a dumping ground for by-products of industrial development and residential refuge. Until recently, however, there was very little attention was paid to water quality (Faeth & Greenhalgh, 2001). Today, the contamination of natural waters such as ponds, lakes, and rivers by anthropogenic organic chemicals has assumed major importance for environmental protectionists. A number of studies over the years have documented how many synthetic organic compounds, although applied or introduced to confined locations, tend to become widely dispersed even to the "ends of the earth" (Schwarzenbach, Haderlein, Muller & Ulrich, 1998). Today, the diffuse loss of phosphorus (P) from agricultural land is generally regarded as a major contributor to eutrophication of fresh water, and there has been a significant increase in research into this issue recently (Fertilizer Applications Influence Phosphorus Runoff, 2004)."
Abstract This paper explains that the problems with existing use of fossil fuels like coal and oil are (1) eventually they will be depleted and (2) fossil fuels are dirty thus causing acid rain, global warming and poor air quality. The author points out that environmentally friendly, renewable power solutions include wind, solar, geothermal, wave and tidal energy, hydrogen fuel cells and modern biomass developments. However, these are still in limited use, thus the world remains depends on fossil fuels. The paper relates that another problem is the power of the big oil companies, who stand to lose a lot of money if alternative power really does catch-on; instead, they should be using their resources to develop these alternative power sources thus making the planet healthier, too.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Problem
Solutions
Summary
From the Paper "None of these solutions are being used enough to remedy the problem, and there are many reasons why they are not being more heavily used. Many of the long-term projects are very expensive to build and operate, and so utilities are hesitant to invest in them. Around the world, many countries are investing in alternative power, such as wind power. Another writer notes, "India, China, and a dozen European nations have installed thousands of wind turbines that generate electricity at a cost comparable to new coal-fired power plants." Here in the U.S. wind power has caught on in some areas, but the vast areas needed to create these "wind farms" is limited, and many people here find them unsightly, so they are not as popular as they are in other parts of the world. They have to be in an area that gets a lot of wind, too, which limits where they can be installed and used."
Abstract In this essay, the writer points out that soil bacteria control the course of nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus through ecosystems. Soil samples were taken from established sites, which have undergone existing long-term manipulations of temperature, nutrient and light availability. The writer discusses that the soil samples were found to contain bacteria through testing and are being studied to determine whether treatments known to affect plant communities also affect soil microbial biomass, activity, gene expression, and community composition as measured by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms.
From the Paper "Soil is an intricate and active biological system, and at times it is difficult to determine the composition of microbial communities in soil. Yet, the study requires a wide variety of methods, which includes methods of extracting DNA from soil suitable for PCR amplification to monitor GM rhizobia and extracting mRNA directly from soil to use in gene expression studies. Hydrocarbons seem to be a contaminated factor when isolating the soil samples in determining bacteria characterization. "Bacteria were isolated from contaminated soil with the media indicating several homolog similarities (researched the possibility of several bacteria names through DP database as determined by the program SIMILARITY_RANK (10)"."
Abstract The paper explains that burning biomass fuels in poorly ventilated dwellings causes unsafe indoor pollution levels. The paper looks at the paraffin (kerosene) stove interventions in Africa that although are safer, have an additional problem that their paraffin is the main cause of poisoning via ingestion amongst young children. The paper discusses the Ethanol CleanCook stoves in Ethiopia and the ProBEC and Stoven interventions in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The paper discusses the different community reactions to the new stoves and reveals that the lack of education and instruction is causing some women to resort back to using more harmful cooking methods.
From the Paper "Over half of the world's population rely on biomass fuels (e.g. dung, wood, crop waste or coal) to meet their most basic energy needs, such as cooking and heating. Unfortunately, burning of these fuels within dwellings without chimneys produces indoor smoke containing a range of health-damaging pollutants, including small soot or dust particles that are able to penetrate deep into the lungs. In poorly ventilated dwellings, indoor pollution due to toxic smoke may be about seven times the safe limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Exposure is particularly high among rural women and children who spend most time of their time in these homes. Every year, indoor air pollution is responsible for the death of 1.6 million people - that's one death every 20 seconds."
